§ Mr Altonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the case of John Cheeseman who was acquitted at Liverpool Crown Court of two charges of murder after a confession had been made by him without his parent present although he had a mental age of 10 years, if he will introduce legislation to make mandatory upon the police the present guidelines dealing with the interviewing of mentally subnormal suspected persons.
§ Mr MayhewMy right hon. Friend is giving careful consideration to the report of the Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure, which has recommended that a statutory code of practice should regulate the conduct of interviews by the police.
§ Mr Altonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the chief constable of Merseyside on the conduct of the police investigation into the murders of Gary Miller and John Greenwood and on the action planned in the light of the verdict in the case of R. v. Cheeseman.
§ Mr MayhewThe chief constable of Merseyside has appointed a senior officer from another police force to carry out an investigation into the circumstances in which Mr Cheeseman was interviewed. The Home Office will receive a report in due course.